Chapter 93

Theodore

"Not to mention forgetting to invite the alpha of Darkmoon, a noble by all counts."

A ripple of a murmur went through the gathering. The garden seemed to hold its breath. Nobles whispered, their disdain barely masked as they watched the scene unfold. Violet straightened, her gaze steady as she observed the situation.

Then, I felt the air shift, crackling with an energy I couldn’t place. Something was coming, and it wasn’t just Lucas’ temper.

The tension in the air was palpable as Lucas stormed toward us, Nora trailing behind like an afterthought. I kept my stance between them, ready to lay him out here and now if he thought he'd get within breathing distance of Violet after what he'd tried to to do her. Before he could reach us, though, Seraphine Vainthott—stepped into the fray. Her expression was a mixture of fury and disbelief, her lips pressed into a tight line as she cut her way through the gathering nobles, heading right for us.

Lucas flinched and faltered in his stride. There was nothing but fear in his expression. Violet released my hand and intercepted her.

When she reached Violet, her tone was low and sharp, meant only for us to hear.

“I am so sorry, Violet. This is unacceptable. They weren’t invited, and I’ll have them removed immediately.”

Violet took her by her elbow and nudged her back and away. I watched them out of the corner of my eye, keeping my eyes on Lucas. He caught my eye and flinched back, going a bit pale. I hoped he was remembering the way I'd nearly killed him.

He had a lot of nerve to show up here and think he would get away with it.

Owen started to walk toward us. He strolled forward as if he owned the place, his signature smirk firmly in place. The whispers rose in pitch as people craned to see what he’d do.

“Violet,” he drawled, his voice smooth and full of calculated charm. “What a surprise to see you here as you are not exactly a noble at the moment, are you?.” His eyes flicked to Lucas and Nora. "Luna Seraphine, should you not be seeing that I and my guests are taken care of? Or perhaps, Violet's refusal to be a decent Luna is rubbing off on you."

Seraphine’s glare could have set him on fire. I knew from Violet that Owen was never invited to noble events because he wasn't a noble and no one liked him.

"As I recall, Your Majesty," Seraphine hissed. "You were not extended an invitation as is customary given the relationship between the throne and the noble class."

"I am Alpha King," he said, haughtily. "I don't need an invitation, and Lucas and Nora are here at my invitation. I hope you don’t mind." He looked at Violet. "Dear sister.”

This son of a bitch. I looked back at Violet. Her expression didn’t change, but I felt the shift in her stance, the steel beneath her calm exterior as she smiled plainly.

“Why would I mind?” she asked, her tone light, almost bored. “It’s not my reputation at stake, nor am I the host you are inconvenicing with your imposition.”

Owen’s smile faltered, just for a moment, before he recovered. “Are you saying I'm imposing?"

"I did not have to," she said sweetly. "Though, I am certain, Seraphine, in her infinite patience, immeasurable foresight, and unfathomable grace can make accommodations." She looked at Seraphine with that same smile.

Seraphine gripped her fists tight, grinding her teeth. The entire garden was quiet. The crowd was eating this up, their whispers growing louder as the tension crackled in the air. Seraphine looked like she was barely holding back from tearing Owen apart.

"A word, Lady Vainthott?"

She allowed herself to be tugged away, leaving me to stand there, watching Owen, his guard, his wife, Lucas, and Nora. Owen's wife looked around with an empty-headed sort of excitement. Nora looked just as haughty.

I focused, feeling my senses narrow on to Seraphine and Violet's conversation going on several paces away.

“It’s fine, Seraphine,” she said, though I could feel the restrained tension through our bond. “I don’t care if they’re here. It’s your event, and I’ll leave it to you to decide what to do, but don't--”

"I care," she hissed. " This is outrageous. Him showing up uninvited pretending as if we should ever expect him is bad enough, but them? Here? In my home? On this day? After everything?”

Violet cut her off. "Seraphine, please calm yourself."

“I’ll have them thrown out immediately,” Seraphine declared, her hands clenching into fists.

Violet put a hand on her arm, a quiet gesture that somehow stopped the fiery Luna in her tracks. “Seraphine, wait. Don’t do anything rash."

Her jaw dropped. “You are on my right, as I have always been on yours and your mother's before you. You can’t expect me to let them stay! You know I’d rather go to war than suffer that."

My eyes widened at the snarl in her voice. I glanced out the corner of my eye to see Violet taking her hands as she chuckled softly.

"I know how it burns you and how this might plague your heart, but hear me, okay? You know how complicated that would be with them here as his--"

"Does it look like I care?" She hissed. The whispers of the crowd began to grow, buzzing like a swarm of bees. “I don't think there's a single person here who wouldn't agree. We could stage the mutiny here. There's enough of here to crown a new king before lunch is served."

My heart jolted.

Violet chuckled softly. "That may be true, but it would not be wise, now would it."

She grumbled. "Fuck being wise."

"Now, now. You and I both know that is not how we handle things. And his desire to irritate me is no reason to complicate you life further. You know how he operates. He doesn’t care about this party, or you, or me. He’s here to make a statement, throw around his dominance and get his kicks. His father already burned every bridge with the noble class, and Owen’s no better. But he’s still the Alpha King. He has knights with him. He's here to cause a scene, do not let him."

Seraphine stared at Violet, torn between fury and reluctant agreement. I stayed quiet, watching the exchange, my instincts on high alert. Violet’s calm, measured tone seemed to reach Seraphine, though only barely.

Then, like a storm breaking, Seraphine tore away from Violet.

“I don’t care if he’s the Alpha King,” she snapped, heading straight for Owen and his entourage. "He'll get the scene he asked for…"

Before she could reach them, Dorian stepped into the scene. I didn't see where he'd come from, but his gait was full of purpose. His expression unreadable as he approached us and intercepted his wife, tucking her arm around hers with a fake, brittle smile. His eyes were glowing with fury. He glanced at me then looked back at Owen.

The murmurs around us quieted, every eye fixed on the confrontation. Seraphine didn't pull away from her husband. She jerked her head up to meet his gaze. Her eyes flickered then his and I could tell they were having some sort of silent conversation. Violet stepped closer to me, twining her arm around mine and tugging me towards them.

She felt more relaxed.

"Care to clue me in?"

"I needed to stall." She smiled. "Don't be fooled by her sunny disposition, she's far more feisty than anyone ever gives her credit for."

She sighed and turned back to watch what happened. Her expression unreadable but her eyes flashing with something I couldn’t quite place.

“With any luck, we'll all be back to mingling and getting ready for lunch. We are all far too above entertaining the whims of a petty child."

I chuckled, nodding and walking with her towards the hosting couple. Suddenly, they were walking, more gliding towards Owen and his entourage. I could still see Seraphine's wrath washing off her in waves, shimmering in the air her movements disturbed.

"What a time to be alive," Dorian said, his voice oddly cheery and pleasant. Owen's expression faltered a bit. He looked a bit nervous. Good. "To think that only a generation later the wrongs of the crown, the mistakes of the throne, would be up for correction, and by you none the less. I suppose now being the brother-in-law to a prominent noble would change a man's heart."

Owen set his jaw. "Yes, well--"

“It’s such an honor,” Dorian began, his voice smooth, almost pleasant, “to have you finally take an interest in the traditions of the noble class, Your Majesty.” His words were polite, but there was an edge to them, subtle and sharp. “You will have to forgive us for not considering the fact that perhaps with the change in family, you would want to connect with your sister-in-law." He looked over at Lucas and Nora. "And how kind of you to bring an appropriate gift to our gathering."

Lucas paled, a ripple of laughter went through the garden.

"If we’d known you were coming, we would have met you at the airport.”